Support for curtain cranes



Y Oct. 6, 1942. l. w. LEMLE 2,293,217'

SUPPORT FOR CURTAIN CRANES Filed Sept. 28, 1940 fi i Patented Oct. 6,` 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 5 Claims.

The apparatus relates to supports for curtain cranes of the type in which the crane is adjustable to bring and maintain it into truly horizontal position.

One object of the invention is to provide a support of this type which is simple in construction and can be easily applied to a wall or frame.

Another object of the invention is to provide a curtain crane support which comprises a bracket section with a socket for the pivot shank of the crane and a hole for an attaching screw, a separate plate section with a hole for a screw for attaching it to a wall or frame, an outwardly projecting screw fixed to one of the sections and extending through a slot in the other, and a nut for clamping the members together and whereby quick and easy adjustment of the bracket section can be made to position the crane so it will be, and be efficiently secured in a, truly horizontal, position.

Other objects of the invention Will be apparent from the following detailed description.

The invention consists in the several novel features which are hereinafter set forth and are more particularly dened by claims at the conclusion hereof.

In the drawing: Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a crane support embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is a section taken on line 2 2 of Fig. 1, the socket for carrying the crane being shown in elevation. Fig. 3 is a section on line 3-3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a perspective of the bracket member of the support. Fig. 5 is a perspective of the plate-member of the support.

The invention is exemplied in connection with a crane I on which a curtain II is suspended in any suitable manner, as Well understood in the art. The crane is pivotally supported to swing horizontally, for example, by a vertical pivot stud or pintle I2 on the crane and a vertical socket I3 in which the pintle is journalled so that the crane may be swung into position parallel with the wall or at right angles thereto.

The improved support which exemplifies the invention comprises a bracket-member I4 and a separately formed plate-member I5. Member I4 comprises a flange I5, the back face of which is parallel to the wall or frame a on which the support is to be mounted and an integral channeled forwardly projecting arm I1 in which an an arm I8 on the socket I3 is adjustably secured for adjusting the socket and crane-pivot to and from ange I6 by a screw I9 which extends through a slot 2E) in arm I8 and is threaded to arm II. The upper portion of ilange I is adapted to fit against the wall or frame a and provided at its upper end with a hole 2| for a screw 22 whereby the bracket-member I4 and flange I6 can be attached to the wall or frame. The screw 22 permits flange I6 to swing in a plane parallel to the wall or frame Suciently to permit the crane carried by bracket-member I4 to be angularly adjusted in a plane parallel to the Wall or frame for the purpose of supporting the crane in a truly horizontal position. The back face of plate-member I5 is adapted to iit against a wall or frame a and is provided with prongs I5a for entering the wall or frame, which are usually formed of wood, and lock said member against angular displacement in a plane parallel to the wall or frame, The lower portion of plate-member I5 is provided with a hole 24 for a screw 23 which is adapted to attach member I5 to and force it against the frame. The prongs insure the holding of this member against rotational displacement by a single screw. A screw 25 projects transversely and forwardly from the outer face of plate-member I5 and is riveted thereto so that the screw will be secured against rotation in said member. Flange I6 has its lower portion I5a oset from the Wall or frame and said portion is adapted to overlap the upper portion of member I5 which lies above the screw 23. Flange-portion IE5a is provided with an arcuate slot 26 through which screw 25 extends. A capnut 27 is provided with a threaded socket in its inner end for engaging the thread of screw 25 `and is adapted to clamp the inner face of the lower portion IIa of flange I6 against the front face of the upper portion of plate-member I5. The back face of portion I6a of flange I6 is knurled, as at 28, and the contiguous portion of the front face of plate-member I5 is knurled, as at 29, so that the contiguous faces of ilange I6 and member I5 will intert when cap-nut 21 is tightened to clamp said flange against the platemember. A split spring lock washer 30 is interposed between the front face of flange portion I5a and the inner end of cap-nut 21 for exerting spring pressure from the cap-nut to hold ange I6 and plate-member I5 in interiitting relation and also to lock the nut against reverse rotation. The outer endr of cap-nut 21 is provided with a kerf 3l so that it can be readily turned by a screwdriver. A

In installing the support, the bracket-member and the plate-member are rst assembled and connected together by the screw 25 and nut 21. Screw 22 will then be driven into the frameto attach the bracket-member I4 to and clamp flange I6 against the front face of the frame a. Screw 25 will then be driven into the frame to lock plate-member I thereto, the prongs 23 entering the frame so that plate-member I5 will be locked against rotation on screw 25. If the crane I8 is not horizontal or if, after its initial installation, it should become displaced, it is only necessary to loosen cap-nut 21 and swing flange I6 and bracket-member I4 slightly on screw 22 until the crane is truly horizontal. The flange I6 is sufficiently flexible transversely to permit the knurled face to slide over the knurled face of member I5,.for this purpose, if the screw 22 is tight. When the cap-nut 21 is again tightened the bracket-member I4 will be rigidly secured against displacement. Screw 25 is disposed below the lower end of flange I5 so that it will be accessible and can be driven into frame a while the plate and bracket members are assembled prior to installation cn the wall or frame. The plate-member is rigidly locked to the frame against rotation by the prongs 23. The cap-nut, being located at the front of flange I6, is readily accessible for adjustment. In the event either of the screws 22, 25 becomes slightly loose in the frame, they will still function as pegs and the rigid connection between bracketmember I6V and plate-member I5 will prevent displacement of the support in a plane parallel to the wall or frame.

The invention exemplifies a curtain crane support which is simple in construction, can be produced at a low cost, can be easily installed while the components of the support are assembled as a unit, and can be readily adjusted from the front side of the wall.

The invention is not to be understood as restricted to the details set forth, since these may be modified within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A curtain crane support comprising the combination of a bracket-member provided with means for pivotally supporting the crane and with a hole at its upper end for pivotally attaching the bracket-member to a wall or frame, a

plate-member adapted toiit against the wall or frame, means for xedly attaching the platemember to the wall or frame independently of vthe bracket-member, said members beingvprovided with overlapping portions, the bracketmember having a slot therein, and means comprising a screw-threaded stud xed to the platemember and extending through the slot and a nut on the front end of the stud for adjustably clamping the overlapping portion of the bracket-member to the plate-member in different angular positions for securing the bracket-member against pivotal movement on its attaching means-said clamping means being adjustable while the platemember is xedly secured to the wall or frame.

2s A curtain crane support comprising the combination of a bracket member, means on said bracket member for pivotally supporting a crane, said bracket member being provided with a hole at its upper end for means for pivotally r attaching it to a wall or frame. and with a lower end portion having faces substantially parallel with the front of the wall or frame and below the crane supporting means, a plate member provided with faces substantially parallel to the front of the wall or frame, means for fixedly scuring the plate member to the wall or frame, the faces of the plate member and the lower end portion of the bracket which are substantially parallel to the front of the wall or frame having portions which overlap and fit together, and means for adjustably and xedly clamping together the overlapped face portions while the plate member remains fixed on the wall or frame..

3. A curtain crane support comprising the combination of a bracket member, means on said bracket member for pivotally supporting a crane, said bracket member being provided with a hole at its upper end for means for pivotally attaching it -to a wall or frame and with a lower end portion having faces substantially parallel with the front of the wall or frame and below the crane supporting means, a plate member provided with faces substantially parallel to the front of the wall or frame, the back face of theplate member being adapted to nt against the wall or frame, means forfixedly securing the plate member with its back face against the wall or frame, the front face of the plate member and the rear face of the lower end portion of the bracket which are substantially parallel to the front of the wall or frame having portions which overlap and t together, and means for adjustably and xedly clamping together the overlapped faces while the plate member remains fixed cn the wall or frame.

4. A curtain crane support comprising the combination of a bracket member, means on said bracket member for pivotally supporting a crane, said bracket member being provided with a hole at its upper end for means for pivotally attaching it to a wall or frame and with a lower end portion having faces substantially parallel with the front of the wall or frame and below the crane supporting means, a plate member provided with faces substantially parallel to the front of thewall or frame, means for flxedly securing the plate member to the wall or frame, the faces of the plate member and the lower end Yportion of the bracket which are substantially parallel to the front of the wall or frame having intertting and overlapped portions, and a screw for adjustably and xedly clamping together the intertting faces while the plate member remains fixed on the wall or frame.

5 A curtain crane support comprising the combination of a bracket member, means on said bracket member for pivotally supporting a crane, said bracket member being provided with a hole at its upper end vfor means for pivotally attaching it to a wall or frame and with a lower end portion having faces substantially parallel with the front of the wall or frame and below the crane supporting means, a plate member provided with faces substantially parallel to the front of the wall or frame, a screw below the lower end of the bracket member for flXedly securing the plate member to the wall or bracket, the faces of the plate member and the lower end portion of the bracket member which are parallel to the front of the wall or frame having portions which overlap and t together, the lower end portion of the bracket member having a slot therein and a screw secured in the plate member and extending through said slot for adjustably and xedly clamping together the overlapped face portions while the plate member remains fixed onvthe wall or frame.

IRWIN W. LEMLE. 

